Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-21
ON THE SAME ROAD.

Nature does not shed her beauties alone
in those parts Of our universe where tour
lists and sight-seers most frequently visit,
for the world in some of its obscurest
places is filed with beauties that have es-
capped the eyes Of its lovers.
Who would have thought of travelling
in stage twenty miles from the nearest
railroad station, or footing it at neces-
sarily slow pace over the hills and rocks
OF Cheshire county, to see how APPLY
nature had done her work in this particu-
lar place? As for the inhabitants of the
little hamlet nestled up among the hills,
very few OF them had time to think of
such matters as feasting their eyes on
natural loneliness, or even giving a thought
to their surroundings Their only object
In life seemed to be to get up at ), eat the
required number Of meals, attend to the
duties Of the day and 90 to bed again
when night came There was verv little
variety in the lives of these people. vet
they seemed to be well enough contentcd
with their lot, except that now and then
some ambitious spirit would overleap the
bounds and make a journey ont into the
world, TO see what people were doing there.
and those that did become so bold very
rarely returned to the old way of living.
One Of these disconnected spirits. who
refused 10 believe that everything the
world contained was found up here among
the hills of Cheshire county, was young
and rather good-looling girl. 1t seemed to
Janet Gray as if this dull, monotonous, I'M
varying routine would never end, and
every day she longed more and more to
leave it.
1t was on a bright morning early in
May, that, returning from an errand, she
threw herself down by the brook, to rest
and to think. Her face was flushed with
fast walking, and with her dark hair and
eyes showing to quite an advantage with
her new bingham dress, Janet presented
quite pretty picture to William Thomas
Toy, as he observed her from the cornfeId
some yards away. But Thomas was man
who did not consider wish long ere he
strived to fulfill it, and was soon at her
side. She looked up with surprised air
when she heard his "Good morning" and
said, ooh! it is you, is ii? then lapsed
again into her thoughtful mood He
watched her while in silence, being too
well accustomed to Janet's WAYS to disturb
her without reason; but finally he mus
tered up courage to make a remark
jamie, what makes you so thoughtful
this morning|
"Tom," she answered, after a pause, II
want you to help me. l am so confused
this morning that | can hardly see my
way clear to do what ! am determined to
do. | am going away" The young man
gave a start. This place is positively nm
bearable longer. Some folks may be con-
tent to drag out their lives in such place
rs this, but am going where | can be and
do something. 1t does seem to me such
positive nonsense for people to be willing
to live along in a hand-to-mouth sort of
way, up here among these hills, and never
do nything of note in the world except
what every mortal does to preserve life,
namely, eat, drink and sleep. 1t is like
being buried aliyew
Having delivered herself of this I'M
maidenly speech, Tom sat waiting for
more, but more didn't come. At last he
ventured 10 say
"Jane | am sorry you are so tired of all
of US but if you want to go over yonder
hills and do something honest and honor
able in the world, you'll go, and | know
better than to say one word of hindrance"
"Yes, Thomas Toy, that is the first right
down sensible thing ever heard you say"
she answered with half smile. "Of
course you know better than to hinder me,
if you could. I'll remember you for your
kind attentions. | am not so tired of YOU
Thomas, nor any of the rest of the folks
don't want TO 90 out of your lives alto
gether; but It is these lonely, rocky hills,
and this bird-cage life that tires me. Just
think, Tom, if | would stay here all the
days of my life, what record | would
have, and when l die how it would sound
to read on my gravestone,-
Here rests the body of Janet Gray;
Where she's gone, she's gone to stay.
BY the way, Tom, what kind of a poetess
do you think I'd make ?"
jamie" said Tom, "your ambitions
are all right. As for poetry, never try
that, whatever you do. It isn't every poor
rhymer that wins fame, nor every asplrant
that attains glory. 1t is time and chance
with everybody. The race is not always
to the swift, nor the battle to the strong"
Look here, Mr.. William Thomas Toy,
/ am well convinced you'd discourage me
if you could but ali the Scripture you can
quote and all the arguments you can use
won't better your cause one iota. | do not
intend to make rhyming profession. But
say, Thomas, don't you think | am rather
fair scribe?'
"Why, jamie" said Tom, "who could
deny that fact :? wish to goodness | could
write as fair hand /; but these clumsy labor
hands Of mine were never meant to hold a
pen daintily But, jamie, what prompted
YOU to ask me such a question? Give us
something more closely related to the sub
iect. How is it you wish me to help you D.?
/ am ready to do all [ CAM
That I'll tell you. OF course I'll break
this news TO Lizz.e first; but however
much | try to soften the astounding reve-
lation, no doubt it will be worse than if a
cyclone had dipped down and borne that
false topknot of hers to the four winds. |
meant no harm to Lizzie by that remark,
so don't stare so; think my stepmother
lust As nice as you do. sShe means well. at
any rate, though she can't see for the life
OF her why folks don't like this outlandish
region as well as she does Now for your
part, Tom. Lizzie viii tell the bows. of
course, aad they will do all they can to
keep me NJ home, and will ask YOU to use
your influence; but want you, as you are
friend to jamie Gray, to persuade them
that my course is the right one that |
know what / am doing; for you know,
Tom, they have unlimited faith in that to
which you lend countenance."
Jane if could only be convinced that
your course is just right. 1 am a man
of few words, little education, but some ex-
perienoe, and / know enough to warn even
you, jamie Gray, that the path to the
worlds favor is dangerous and difficult
one There are pitfalls iu cities for mex
perieneed girls that you know not OF, and
it requires faithful and steady nature to
overcome these dangers. If it were only
in my power to protect you through the
world. 1t is strong right arm that would
keep danger from your door; it is an
honest, loving heart that would prompt
Thomas Toy to advise nothing in which
he could not altogether believe"
e" Tom" answered jamie, 1--WE told you
many times that you must not talk TO me
of such things. Our paths lie in different
directions. Your lot is cast among people
with whom I have nothing in common